Fast Track Entry to St Peter's Basilica

St Peter's Basilica

OMNIA & Vatican Rome Card Benefits:

Learn about the history and highlights of Rome's largest Roman Catholic church including the exquisite decor, crypts and baldacchino with a free Wi-Fi downloadable Audio Guide

St Peter’s Basilica is Rome’s most famous church and one of the most important catholic landmarks in the world. As the holy epicentre of the Roman Catholic faith it’s vital to the history and culture of Rome – even to this day it is a place of global pilgrimage. With its impressive dome, gilt and marble interior it’s a wonder to behold not only for its symbolism but for its art and architecture, too.

You can now pre-book your entry tickets to St. Peter's Basilica to reserve your entry slot with the Omnia Vatican & Rome Pass! Simply follow the instructions on your confirmation email and reserve a time-slot within the 72 hours validity of your Omnia Vatican & Rome Pass.

The official Wi-Fi downloadable audioguide app is for smartphones and tablets. Available in English, Italian, Spanish, French, Portuguese, German, Polish, Russian, Chinese and Japanese.

Please note: 7 June: Closed

Highlights:

Bernini’s canopy

Under the Dome

St Peter’s Square

Papal Throne

Crypts

TOP TIP: Skip the lines and head straight in – saving you up to 4 hours in the summer! Also, you will receive a free Wi-Fi downloadable audio guide - worth €15.00!

Did you know:

St Peter’s Basilica doesn’t have a single painting in it at all – all the ‘art’ is sculptures, architecture and mosaics

The only person permitted to give mass at the altar underneath the Baldacchino is the Pope

Although it’s the biggest church in Rome, it’s not the official seat of the Pope – St John in the Lateran actually holds that title

Things to see:

Bernini’s Baldacchino

You can’t miss the huge bronze canopy in the middle of the nave, the baldacchino, and at 30 meters tall its imposing structure calls upon any visitor to admire this Baroque pavilion. Built by Bernini in the first half of the 17th century its architecture and design was inspired by various religious influences, such as the canopy held over the heads of the Popes in procession, the Temple of Jerusalem, and the emblem of Pope Urban in its laurel leaf detail.

Bramante’s Dome

As the tallest dome in the world – measuring 136.57 metres in height it was designed by some of the greatest artists of all time. The original designs were by Bramante, in 1506, and were modelled on the Pantheon in its style and structure. It then passed through the hands of Sangallo who took inspiration from Bramante’s Pantheon model and the Florence Cathedral, before Michelangelo took all previous plans into consideration and created what we see now, with Giacomo della Porta and Domenico Fontana actually finishing the build over 90 years later.

St Peter’s Square

St Peter’s Square, also created by Bernini, is another prime example of Baroque art and architecture in Rome. Constructed over ten years, 1656-1667, it sits infront of St Peter’s Basilica and is dominated by a 40 metre tall Egyptian obelisk, as well as an original fountain by Maderno. The colonnades are lined with two rows of marble pillars and 140 statues perched on top depicting important religious figures.